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By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin
“HaShem spoke to Moshe: Speak to Aaron and his sons. This is how you shall bless Bnei Yisroel. Say to them:
May HaShem bless you and protect you.
May HaShem shine His face upon you, and be gracious to you.
May HaShem turn His face towards you, and grant you peace.”
(Bamidbar 6:22-26)
This week’s parsha, Nasso, includes Birchas Kohanim, the bracha that HaShem instructed the kohanim to transmit to the Jewish nation. “Let the kohanim put My name on Bnei Yisroel, and I will bless them.” (Bamidbar 6:27). HaShem is the source of all blessing, and the kohanim are His messengers, conduits through which the blessings reach us.
The kohanim bless us on the Sholosh Regalim, Pesach, Shavuos and Succos, as well as on Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. In Eretz Yisroel, there are varying customs, with many shuls including it in Shacharis every day.
When in Yerushalayim, my husband and I make every effort to daven vasikin at the Kosel. To me, it is one of the most uplifting experiences. One that makes Eretz Yisroel so special. When we arrive, the sky is still dark, but by the time we reach Shemoneh Esrei, the sun is out, the blessing of a new day. Boker ohr. There, we are the recipients of Birchas Kohanim. How special it is to begin each day with a bracha. After all, one can never have too many blessings.
Birchas Kohanim begins with the reciting of the bracha “… And has commanded us to bless His people b’ahava, with love.”
With love. We have so many mitzvos – daily mitzvos, like washing our hands upon rising in the morning. Mitzvos that are unique to Shabbos, like candlelighting and Kiddush. Mitzvos in honor of the yomim tovim – such as matzah on Pesach, sitting in the succah, Megillas Esther on Purim, shofar on Rosh HaShana, and kindling the Chanukah menorah. Yet, none of the berachos recited prior to performing these mitzvos include the term “b’ahava”, to observe the mitzva with love.
The Zohar tells us that the kohein’s blessing must come from the heart and be sincere. To bless everyone standing before him, each member of Am Yisroel with love. To “fargin” – to be happy for another’s joy, well-being, nachas and mazel. To be selfless, and rise above any feelings of jealousy or ill will. To have a pure, giving heart towards all.
The kohanim bless the kehillah in the personal–singular, even though they are blessing an entire group. This sends an important message to the kohanim, that each and every person is valuable. Every group is comprised of individuals, and each one needs blessings. Blessings to be given b’ahava, with love.
We were just blessed on Shavuos by the kohanim. How elevating it felt to receive their bracha, and listen to their melodious chants. The gift of HaShem’s brachos.
The kohanim stand with outstretched hands, as if to be “touching” everyone they are blessing. Their palms face the floor, with spacing between the thumb and index finger as well as between the middle and ring fingers. It is a message not to despair — that there is always an opening despite hardship. As HaShem’s spiritual light shines through the openings of the kohanim’s fingers, so too, do His rays of light rest upon us.
There is a beautiful custom amongst some Sephardic communities, where everyone in shul stands during Birchas Kohanim with their hands outstretched, and their palms facing upwards, to symbolize their readiness to accept the brachos being bestowed upon them by the kohanim.
Birchas Kohanim is comprised of three distinct blessings:
Yevorechecho – HaShem should bless us. Rashi quotes from the Midrash that this is a blessing for prosperity. That HaShem should provide for our material needs. The blessing includes “v’yishmerecha – to guard and protect us.” HaShem should not only gift us good fortune, but watch over our possessions as well.
Yo’er – HaShem should shine His light, His ohr upon us. This refers to our spiritual growth. A bracha that we be capable of understanding the wisdom of the Torah, and live a life of meaning and purpose. Vee’chuneh’ka, that HaShem be gracious to us.
Yisso – HaShem should turn His face towards us, and bestow upon us the bracha of shalom. Peace and harmony between nations, communities, families, and peace within oneself.
Brachos we can all use.
“V’heyei bracha, You shall be for a blessing.” (Bereishis 12:2) HaShem’s words to Avraham Avinu. A message for all times. To be a people of blessing. A nation that cherishes both giving and receiving brachos.
One of my most special childhood memories is of my parents’ brachos, every Friday night and especially Erev Yom Kippur. As is customary in many families, we would line up, oldest to youngest, and receive a bracha from our father, as he lovingly placed his hands upon us. We would then go to our mother, and she too, would bentch us, and then whisper a personal prayer to each of us – always knowing exactly what we needed to hear.
Before each of the yomim tovim, we would go to our grandparents, Mama and Zeide, and receive brachos from them. As is the Hungarian custom, we would kiss Zeide’s hand and thank him for his brachos. Blessings that were given with ahava, with love. A love that was palpable.
My mother would tell us to reciprocate with words of blessing to Mama and Zeide. To wish them gezunt, good health, to be at our weddings, and see much nachas from us.
I never outgrew or tired of brachos. When I became a mother, it was my turn to bring the next generation to my parents and grandparents. Mama and Zeide’s house was always the baby’s “first outing”.
I am often asked what I miss the most about my parents. They were larger than life personalities, both so accomplished. I miss so many things, but high up on that list are their brachos. Brachos that calmed my spirit, and gave me the feeling that everything will be okay, safe and secure. Brachos that were given with love.
B’ahava. With love. One need not be a kohein to give a bracha. We can all give brachos b’ahava, with love.
Shabbat Shalom!
Chaya Sora
Chaya Sora can be reached at [email protected]
This article was written L’zecher Nishmas / In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt’l
